Why is the US so conservative?

[TJ in Oregon]

No.  You are wrong, again.  Universal condemnation of the Iraq war is not a Democratic idea.  Its a UN idea.  I've got news for my Republican friends the rest of the world views people who still support the Iraq war as warmongering/war criminals.  That's the OP's point.  Even right wing politicians in other countries view the US actions in Iraq as illegal.  The American right exists in its own world quite separate from the rest of reality.

The US right wing doesn't really care what the rest of the world thinks because we didn't elect the rest of the world, we elected the politicians in Washington. That's the point of Democracy--to have those who we elected make such decisions.

Don't get me wrong, invading Iraq was a bad idea but the reason why it was a bad idea was because Saddam didn't actually have WMDs, not because the UN said so.

[Link]

No.  You are wrong, again.  Universal condemnation of the Iraq war is not a Democratic idea.  Its a UN idea.  I've got news for my Republican friends the rest of the world views people who still support the Iraq war as warmongering/war criminals.  That's the OP's point.  Even right wing politicians in other countries view the US actions in Iraq as illegal.  The American right exists in its own world quite separate from the rest of reality.

The US right wing doesn't really care what the rest of the world thinks because we didn't elect the rest of the world, we elected the politicians in Washington. That's the point of Democracy--to have those who we elected make such decisions.

Don't get me wrong, invading Iraq was a bad idea but the reason why it was a bad idea was because Saddam didn't actually have WMDs, not because the UN said so.

I was just correcting your friend who was under the mistaken impression that anyone else on the planet thought Republicans ideas are sane... They, in fact, are not.

As to the question of should Republicans care, I would say they should.  If Republicans traveled around the world and looked at alternative ways of doing things they would come up with better policies.  We do some things in this country better than anyone else on the planet but there are some areas in which we are far behind.  If we had listened to the world we could have avoided a costly war.  That alone should give you pause if someone says they don't care what the rest of the world thinks.


And besides, when people say, "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks" credibility points are deducted right off the top.

[Kevin]

There is no denying that compared to almost every other developed country the US is  very conservative, in what other country could Michelle Bachmann be a serious contender for the presidential nominee. In almost every other developed country opposing universal health care would make you an extreme right winger, but supporting it in the US makes you a socialist/communist/marxist. Why is this?

Its because things aren't really that bad over here.  You can be pretty uneducated and still afford a decent apartment and a car.  If you need healthcare you can go to an emergency room and stiff the hospital on the bill.  They won't drag you into court over it.  Why have universal health care when you can just rip the system off?

The issue of race can't be ignored.  The minute a Democrat signed the Civil Rights Act the South went from being Democratic to being Republican.

Another issue is the system. In a parliamentary system Bachmann would never have gotten as far as she has.

General ignorance.  Americans as a whole are easily duped.  They glorify politicians where as in other countries the average citizen is skeptical about anything ANY politician says.  Over here if you disagree with a Republican politician you are "unamerican."  The Republican party is like a cult.  Its leaders can say anything and its taken as a fact, "You'll be murdered if you don't own a gun.  Tax cuts increase revenue.  Global warming is a hoax.  Iraq has WMDs.  Sure your 75 year old grandmother with DM, COPD, CAD, and metabolic syndrome can buy health insurance for $15,000 a year.  Obama is a Muslim.  Obama was born in Kenya.  White people can't find jobs because of Affirmative action.  The war on drugs is a smashing success."  It just goes on and on.

I'd counteract that by pointing out that both parties are responsible for this time of rhetoric like mentioned before in this thread

From the Republican/conservative POV-Support Abortion? Your a baby killer? Support universal health care-Your a left-wing Socialist? Support gun control-your an authoritarian on par with Adolf Hitler/Joesph Stalin.

And from the Democratic/liberal or left view-Oppose Amnesty for illegal immigrants/want restrictions on immigration-Your a racist and probably a closeted Neo-Nazi white supremacist. Support Free Trade-Your a job killing heartless crook(picture Mr. Burns from the Simpsons) Support the War in Iraq-Your a warmonger/war criminal.

So this type of extreme talk clearly runs in both parties.

I mean comparing US and British politics, the Republican and Conservative parties stand largely the same on most issues. While the same goes for the Democrats and Labour comparison.

Therefore it's a matter of rhetoric in my opinion.   

No.  You're wrong.  I'm going to guess you've never been to the UK.  That's the OP's point.  Americans don't even realize how far to the right Republican ideas are.  NO major right wing party in Europe supports the extreme positions of the American right.  I don't know what is more disturbing, how right wing Republicans are or the fact they are ignorant about how out of touch they are with the rest of the human race.

To offer my rebuttal, I've been outside the US and more specially the UK a couple of times for long periods of time(in matter of fact I just got back a few days ago) I'm also a history/international relations major at college. As well as the fact that I know many Europeans, Canadian's and others from outside the US so I know what is thought of American politics abroad.

So I still stick with my original points Link.

[TJ in Oregon]

The other poster was simply pointing out that people of both parties are constantly engaging in demonization tactics, as you have done constantly throughout this thread by supplying a couple valid liberal arguments and using that to extend upward to some loaded conclusion like:

• I was just correcting your friend who was under the mistaken impression that anyone else on the planet thought Republicans ideas are sane... They, in fact, are not.
  
• And besides, when people say, "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks" credibility points are deducted right off the top.
• I don't know what is more disturbing, how right wing Republicans are or the fact they are ignorant about how out of touch they are with the rest of the human race.
   

Do you any sense of objectivity when you think about politics? Or is everything just an insult?

[Link]

The other poster was simply pointing out that people of both parties are constantly engaging in demonization tactics, as you have done constantly throughout this thread by supplying a couple valid liberal arguments and using that to extend upward to some loaded conclusion like:

• I was just correcting your friend who was under the mistaken impression that anyone else on the planet thought Republicans ideas are sane... They, in fact, are not.
  
• And besides, when people say, "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks" credibility points are deducted right off the top.
• I don't know what is more disturbing, how right wing Republicans are or the fact they are ignorant about how out of touch they are with the rest of the human race.
   

Do you any sense of objectivity when you think about politics? Or is everything just an insult?

The first statement you quoted was hyperbole.  It was meant to be kind of a (bad) joke.  Sorry, I should have been clearer.  I do not think every idea that every Republican has is a bad idea.  Ron Paul's idea about not starting wars every five minutes is a good idea and is accepted in numerous corners of the world.

Quote number two stands unmodified.  I don't care if you are Democrat, Republican, English, Zulu, or Eskimo.  If you say you don't care what the rest of the world thinks you do lose credibility.  I do not know how that is a "demonizing tactic" or a "loaded conclusion."

Quote number three stands as well.  The right wing of this country is out of step with the majority of Western Northern Hemisphere societies and there are a lot of people that don't even realize it.  And I can't figure out which is more disturbing.

I have said positive things about Republican office holders and defended them against what I perceived as unfair attacks.  Just because you chose not to acknowledge those posts doesn't mean they don't exist.

This picture is unfortunate Or: A picture is worth a thousand words

I don't think its appropriate or productive to call people the other "n word."

Maybe Perry has the same tolerance issues as Romney?

I wasn't aware either of them had tolerance issues.  I've never heard either of them say anything disparaging about any race or religion.

In fairness people say Perry is a good campaigner.

Even though I am Christian I was a little bit worried about Perry after his prayer event.  The fact that he is willing to sit down and have a dialog with Muslims actually makes me feel a lot better about him.

All within 24 hrs.  Looks like someone else might have to walk back some of their own hyperbolic statements.  I await your apology.

Do you any sense of objectivity when you think about politics? Or is everything just an insult?

[TJ in Oregon]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

If this was a joke than I accept your apology here. (I am assuming your comment in the millionaire building an island thread was also a joke then )

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I originally thought you meant that everyone (or at least all non-“insane” people) ubiquitously accept this as absolute truth, in which case it is insulting. However, if you were simply stating your opinion than it is fine and I stand corrected.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Since when is most of Western Europe the same as “the rest of the human race”? It’s not like we went into Iraq alone. The UK, Australia, and Poland also invaded. I understand the invasion was not a popular one, but the intent of this comment seemed to be dehumanizing, not just a mere political argument over a legitimate policy difference.
Now for my quote:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I apologize for the first sentence and the use of the word “everything” in the second one because you clearly have some sense of objectivity with regards to politics from the quotes you have supplied and not everything is an insult. However, I for one would appreciate it if in the future you would attack the policy issue at hand rather than the people with whom you disagree. Not every politician on the television set may do that but it is a part of common courtesy and respect.

It would also be nice if you refrain from gloating as you ask for an apology such as this:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It’s rather rude.

[Link]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

If this was a joke than I accept your apology here. (I am assuming your comment in the millionaire building an island thread was also a joke then )

Disgusting display of what is wrong with America

Silicon Valley billionaire funding creation of artificial libertarian islands.

Uhhh... Yeah, dude.  That whole thread was a joke.  I can't believe you took it seriously.  My comment wasn't even aimed at you.  I was once again using hyperbole to show the LIBERAL OP how ridiculous his thread is.  I am not one of those people that thinks this is MY country.  You are thinking of the Tea Party crowd.  I don't go around saying "I want MY country back."  I will criticize people if I don't agree with them, but I would never seriously suggest people leave the country because they don't agree with me.